Smart people everywhere, yay!
OVERALLThis drama has got to be one of the deepest, most aesthetically pleasing historicals. Watch it if 1) you are looking for smart, complex characters (good and evil), 2) you like revenge plots 3) you don't mind the odd fantasy element. Reconsider if 1) you care too much about the age and looks of the cast, 2) you're looking for romance, 3) conversation-heavy dramas bore you. I would still give it a try though, but it's up to you!
THE STORY
I'm writing this review after watching this drama for the 3rd time, actually. I watched it once four years ago, and then again right away with my parents, but watching it once more years later is like watching it for the first time. I had this drama on a pedestal for the longest time, and while I still think it's an absolutely amazing drama, I can now tell some of its flaws too.
The Good: The best thing about NIF are the characters. They're all SO well-written, not always with a crazy amount of depth but always with consistency and SMARTNESS - which is great, especially for the villains, who are often reduced to dumb, unrealistic caricatures in dramas. Also, one thing that many, including myself, deplore about NIF is how it is extremely male-centric, but the drama kind of (just kind of) makes up for it with a whole bunch of smart, badass female characters. The plot comes in as a close second in my list of best things about NIF. The drama is one big chess game and there isn't one move out of line. Everything has a purpose for the story, every character as well, and it's so cool to see things come together. Lastly, I have to say NIF has down periods that can be a bit slow-paced, but it has just as many segments that are super sensational, making you feel excited or getting you to cry buckets. So while it's not the best binge material, it definitely sends you on a rollercoaster ride. Oh, and I have to mention the visuals in this drama, because the sets, costumes and shots are so beautiful. There's definitely a lot of high quality in NIF.
The Bad: On the negative side, we have a very poorly managed love story in this drama. Romance is not the center of NIF and it makes sense that it recedes to the background, but the drama goes beyond that. What we see is a main lead CONSTANTLY dismissing the girl he is supposed to like. He lies to her again and again, never consults her before he does anything (even something that will impact her as well as him), never includes her in his plans (but he includes every other person that may not even be able to protect themselves as well as her), almost never is shown feeling/thinking/longing for her (he seems to care more about every other character than her), etc. Overall, I ended this drama feeling like female lead liked him a lot more than he liked her and that he did not deserve her. On a similar note, I didn't appreciate how women were so overlooked in this drama. Sure, it has boss female characters who, while they don't do much, manage to steal your heart when they do appear. But why can't they play a bigger role in the plot? Some might say 'oh, but at the time...', but it's not really a valid argument. While some women couldn't move freely about, many could and the drama does show that. And in any case, it's not like they couldn't make them bend the rules through secret passages and such. So not including women in the plot seems like a deliberate, male-centric move. A final thing I didn't particularly like in this drama is the incorporation of fantasy elements. They're not enough to ruin the whole experience, but they could also have been removed/replaced by realistic elements and it wouldn't have made the drama worse (quite the opposite).
THE ACTING
Pretty solid by everyone. This is why the cast's age should never be a factor to decide whether to watch a drama or not. NIF has an older cast but their experience makes their perform top notch. The roles that most caught my attention in this drama were the Emperor (absolutely the best, I would say) and the villains, but they all play very well. Several scenes are just goosebumps-worthy!
THE MUSIC
Absolutely amazing. Nothing I'd listen to now that the drama is over, but compared to other dramas in which the same happens, the music REALLY stood out for me. It's like in a film, carefully selected and placed to boost the scenes but not overwhelm you or distract you from what's going on. And it's just SO beautiful!
REWATCH VALUE
Well, I watched it three times already, enough said! But I must say, I did do some fast-forwarding this time...
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This review may contain spoilers
I've probably watched this drama more than I can remember. When I first saw its trailer, I thought it was a movie given the quality (setting, acting, action scenes, etc.) and cinematography. I've long anticipated what was to happen when the drama was nearing its end but there's just this stubborn thought and a constant hope that the ending wouldn't be what the drama was pointing at since the beginning. Some say that it resembles the plot of Count of Monte Cristo but I would suggest that you keep that thought off of your minds. Nirvana In Fire is a different league on it its own. This drama is definitely one to watch. And to the hopefuls like myself, here's something for you: https://talesofathirdworldnurse.wordpress.com/2018/02/26/the-unofficial-nirvana-in-fire-ending-youve-never-seen/
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The story revolves around an old frail man who is a thousand steps ahead of everyone else, who has his own ambitions and ultimately will see those ambitions come through no matter how costly it is to himself.
The casting was excellent. WK played his role beautifully. The action and sword play was very exciting to watch and although watching a seemingly old man start flying around like a young Jet Li seemed a bit much, you do have to suspend disbelief somewhere.
It was a solid start, enough to keep me interested with the usual meddling in the middle and a very somewhat predictable race to the finish. For fifty odd episodes, a drama has to stay interesting for the viewer to want to come back and this one did enough to do that. It took a total of two months on and off to complete.
I did feel that the writers dropped story lines in the sense that characters who I thought were going to be big players turned out to be one and done. It was to help the main plot go forward but there weren't any subplots to latch on to because of it. There is a romance element that is very discreet. You could argue that it was never really there in this timeline but the strong sense of bromance is in full effect if that's your liking.
All in all, a good drama to get away from the real world. If the ending seems bleak, I prefer the alternate one that's out there and really is the true ending.
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This review may contain spoilers
Justice, Revenge, and Lasting Friendships
A well planned and executed scheme to shed light on past injustices.Watch this for the well written script, seasoned acting, and virtuous friendships.
1. Story
Certainly a drama where watching a second time would make things more clear. I admit the first 10 episodes were slightly dull to me being that it is more heavily on script than others. Though the story actually builds momentum gradually throughout and never slips until the ending, which is how dramas should be.
Its definitely not everyone's cup of tea but besides the exceptional leads and supporting cast, it also had some of the best war scenes without too much CGI used I have ever seen.
2. Characters
Mei Chang Su's chemistry with all of the cast was outstanding but the obvious is with Prince Jing. They shared an authentic connection and engaged viewers through their relationship.
Princess Ni Huang (Tamia Liu) also had fantastic chemistry with Hu Ge but it wasn't the main focal point, though I wish somehow they would have allowed more moments between them cause the chemistry could have rivaled other romantic dramas.
There were many supporting characters to like in this drama so its too much to list them all, however there were a few intriguing characters that maybe you could have sympathized with.
(1) The Emperor -- towards the end where Xiao Shu entered the palace to plead the Emperor to re-investigate the case, they shared a moment which I thought was very interesting. Their relationship seems to be complicated.
(2) Prince Yu -- once you learned about his story then its entirely appropriate to sympathize with him. He was another actor who played his role perfectly.
(3) Xia Jiang -- one of the main culprits in this drama yet you could find reasons to sympathize with him. The scene when his Son was revealed to him as still alive was very touching.
3. Romance
More friendship than romance but again, if this story had been a romantic drama between Xiao Shu and Princess Mu Ni Huang, then no question their chemistry would have been off the charts.
4. Costume / Music
An exceptionally moving soundtrack yet was only sparingly played throughout. Its one of those times where I felt the soundtrack actually did not play enough but when it did, it made an impact. Costume and wardrobes were average, the drama had an old feeling about it, also not to mention this drama is very hard to find to watch in HD.
Soundtrack -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4US7gLYPEJk&list=PLA-Ut9mBTLeIM4dJIeSvpT5m6sbaUHm5X
5. Ending
Very tragic ending though lightened by the directors by not directly showing the tragedy, it was a fairly quick wrap up. Perhaps they felt it was unnecessary to extend such a sad moment.
However, one thing that lacked was the explanation or showing of what happened to the other supporting casts. Though the story was based on Mei Chang Su, I was very curious about the other characters and how they ended up.
A drama that deserves a re-watch to fully grasp indeed for some.
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Sadly boring and slow
Sadly I can not see what the hype was about, I found this series slow and boring over time. Have to keep track of what is going on. Some of the characters are fun and the acting is good for the most part but there are some points in the storyline that feel repeated and slow and not needed while other moments I wish they gave more details, not for everyone.Was this review helpful to you?
A slow burn
It took me a long time to get into this — I rarely watch historical dramas, much less something so heavy, so I had a lot of trouble with the character tree and not really understanding what the backstory was.About 25 episodes in, however, I really started to hit my stride. I was really interested in how the different plots would unfold, and especially in the tension between the main characters Mei Changsu and Jingyan as we gradually got a few identity reveals — none of them disappointed.
Overall, I ended up really enjoying this one and would probably enjoy it a little more had it not been for the ending, which I understand thematically but still feels tacked on. It always feels kind of underwhelming when a drama adds a mini plot after the main one is over. It feels unexplained and rushed, and I really will just…pretend it doesn’t exist, to be honest.
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It represents all characters to have their own characters, like when I saw this main character, I could understand what he or she think and do. It makes me feel that everyone in the drama is real, doesn’t like other drama that some characters look no life. And I like the pattern how the director tells the story. It’s mysterious and sad at the same time. Also every scenes and camera are so beautiful. I really love it!!!
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I'm not sure this would fall under "mystery" but there are aspects that make it mysterious and keep you guessing the outcome. Very unexpected.
I enjoyed Hu Ge in this series, as well as his "bromance" with the other characters.
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This review may contain spoilers
Word Nirvana
If this drama change name to other name beside word nirvana than the rate would drop so much. I think buddhism become more calm over the years and keep low profile. What is nirvana? western want to know badly and come to see what it is? than they see sick man seek revenge instead. nirvana is ultimate place of buddhism promise. the promise land which it cure all disease and immortality and peacefulness. when nirvana has fire? sad day for ignorance chase fame and ruin a day.The story didn't involve with nirvana or even a little. it talk about a general who throw himself from the cliff and seek justice to his family. Karma didn't exist and sin didn't occur in nirvana. Hate, revenge, want, love,etc doesn't exist in nirvana. how this drama name nirvana and also add fire. it is completely look down on the entire buddhism.
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